"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Proverbs 25:11

In the early 1900's, in the small village of Podsreda, Croatia, an altar
boy named Josip Broz was serving the priest at Sunday mass. As he was 
holding the wine cruet, it accidentally dropped and shattered. The village
priest struck the altar boy sharply on the cheek and in a gruff voice shouted:
"Leave the altar and don't come back!" Crushed, Josip left the church and by
the time he was eighteen, he joined the newly formed Croatian Social Democratic
Party. During World War II, Josip changed his name to Marshal Tito and in 
1945 Tito became the communist dictator of Yugoslavia.

There was another altar boy in the early 1900's named John who grew up in El 
Paso, Illinois. He too was serving Sunday mass to a bishop when a wine cruet 
accidentally fell from his hand during communion. With a warm twinkle in his 
eyes the bishop gently whispered: "Someday you will be a priest." John took 
that lesson of forgiveness and hope to heart. John not only grew up to become 
a priest, but Archbishop John Fulton Sheen was one of the most captivating 
radio preachers and influential religious authors in America.

What power we have when we say the right word at the right time. Are your words 
"Apples of Gold"? Today in prayer, thank Christ for His example of aptly 
spoken words.

Look to the Lord to give you wisdom in all that you say.

"Be humble and gentle in your conversation; and of few words, I charge you; 
but always pertinent when you speak." - William Penn

God's Word: "A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely 
word!" - Proverbs 15:23

By Peter Kennedy